Exam Matters

E-Maths: Mensuration Formula Sheet

I have compiled a 'cheat sheet' to find volume and surface area of

cube
cuboid
prism
cylinder
pyramid
cone
sphere

This will be a quick summary for all students taking their O-Level examinations and school examinations. This will be useful for E-Maths students as the new syllabus includes a real life application question which can be testing on concepts involving these figures. It will be helpful for A-Maths students as well especially in their Differentiation proving questions. On top of that, A-Level H1/H2 students will benefit from it as well since it could required in their calculus proving questions too.

mensuration-formula-sheet

2015 O-Level Results Release on 11 January 2016

The results of the 2015 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) examination will be released on Monday, 11 January 2016.

School candidates may collect their results from their schools at 2.00 pm on 11 January 2016.

Private candidates will be notified of their individual results by post. The result slips will be mailed on 11 January 2016 to the address provided by the candidates during the registration period. Private candidates who are eligible for SingPass can also use their SingPass account to obtain their results online via the internet Examination Results Release System (iERRS) on Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board’s website at www.seab.gov.sg from 2.00 pm on 11 January 2016.

Source: http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2016/01/release-of-2015-singapore-cambridge-gce-o-level-examination-results-and-2016-joint-admissions-exercise.php

2015 GCE O-Level Additional Maths 4047 Paper 1 Post Mortem Not Solutions

After doing the revised syllabus 4047 GCE O-Level Additional Maths Paper 1, it reconfirms that Cambridge is testing basic concepts but presented in a different manner.

There are a few questions which are truly testing your application like the one on quadratic curve is always negative, range of m for which the graphs have two intersection points ...

I highly recommend all candidates to read your question carefully, keep asking yourself if you have answered the question.

An additional point to highlight is look at the allocation of marks to gauge the amount of working to present, the choice of approaches to use.

Based on what have been tested in Paper 1, we are looking forward to the following concepts in Paper 2:

Indices
Sum & Product of roots
Factor Remainder Theorem (solving cubic equations)
Equation of circle (*Draw if you don't understand the question)
Trigonometry R formula
The Hence concept (Differentiation & Integration combined)
Partial Fraction & Integration
Properties of Integral
Differentiation & Integration of exponential function and ln function
Differentiation: Eqn of Tangent & Normal
Coordinate Geometry
Equation of circle
Binomial Expansion
Linear Law

I would be expecting cross-chapters questions on Monday. Just like you, I'm a candidate so the above list is just my suggestion.

All the best for the final Maths paper. See you at the finishing line.

PS: Don't worry about bell curve! It's beyond our control!

2015 GCE O-Level Elementary Maths 4016 Paper 1 (Post Mortem not Solutions)

I have just completed the 2015 GCE O-Level Elementary Maths 4016 Paper 1 and found it to be more applications based.

Some questions are indirect and required more analysis. Some of the questions I enjoyed doing were:

Mode, median and mean
Mean and standard deviation
HCF and LCM
Coordinate geometry linked to vectors
Matrix

Once again, just like last year, there are about 2-3 questions which are 5 marks. (If I remembered correctly)

Based on what were tested, we are logically make some guesses of what we are expecting in Paper 2. The following topics are what I'm suggesting and they are for reference only:

Indices
Proportion
Quadratic equations & graphs (Skill: completing the square)
General shapes of graphs
Everyday Maths (Compound interest, simple interest, hire purchase, exchange rate, taxation, utilities, profit and loss)
Proving of congruency and similarity
Angle & symmetry properties of circles
Trigonometry (sin rule, trigo ratio of obtuse angle, angle of elevation or depression, shortest distance, area of triangle formula)
Vectors
Cumulative frequency (includes frequency table), box & whisker, stem & leaf, dot diagram (Concept on lower quartile, upper quartile)
Kinematics
Mensuration

Regardless of how you think you have fared for Paper 1, continue to work hard for Paper 2 which is 2 days away. Practice daily!

All the best!

2014 GCE O-Level Additional Maths 4047 Paper 1 Post Mortem

After doing the revised syllabus 4047 GCE O-Level Additional Maths Paper 1, it reconfirms that Cambridge is testing basic concepts but presented in a different manner.

There are many small details that candidate should look out for. I was underlining these small details eg acute angles, exact value, in radians, the acute angle, x coordinate.

I highly recommend all candidates to read your question carefully, keep asking yourself if you have answered the question.

An additional point to highlight is look at the allocation of marks to gauge the amount of working to present, the choice of approaches to use.

Based on what have been tested in Paper 1, we are looking forward to the following concepts in Paper 2:

Indices
Logarithms
Sum & Product of roots
Factor Remainder Theorem (solving cubic equations)
Equation of circle (*Draw if you don't understand the question)
Trigonometry Graphs
Trigonometry Double Angle
Geometry Proof (Please know your congruent and similar triangles tests)
Parabola & General shapes of graphs in the form y = ax^n (where n is a fraction)
Area under curve
The Hence concept (Differentiation & Integration combined)
Kinematics

I would be expecting cross-chapters questions tomorrow. Just like you, I'm a candidate so the above list is just my suggestion.

All the best for the final Maths paper. See you at the finishing line.

PS: Don't worry about bell curve! It's beyond our control!

2014 GCE O-Level Elementary Maths 4016 Paper 1 (Post Mortem)

After completing this year O-Level E-Maths Paper 1, I personally find that the difficulty level has increased compared to the last 3 years.

I was slightly shocked to see question 1 as a arrangement question.Quite a handful of students commented that there are questions which aren't even Maths questions.

One of the questions is "Questionnaire on how much time does student spoil on Internet". It was probably what the question is asking for which brought some surprises to the candidates.
I found the cuboid, cube and the equal area of rectangles questions well crafted.
The train leaving tunnel was sneaky. It reminded me of PSLE Math.
I like the number pattern question as it has a twist to it. Instead of listing down the first few terms, they skipped some terms. It was very refreshing.
One of the observations I have: 2014 Paper 1 has a few questions which are 3-5 marks for a single part. It seems to deviate from the usual short questions of 1 to 3 marks in the past few years.

Based on what were tested, we are logically make some guesses of what we are expecting in Paper 2. The following topics are what I'm suggesting and they are for reference only:

Standard form
Scales & Maps
Factorisation
Solving simultaneous equations
Solving fractional equations
Inequality
Subject formula
General shapes of graphs
Functions & Graphs
Quadratic equations & Graphs
Distance, speed and acceleration graphs
Construction of bisectors
Congruent & Similar Figures
Angle & Symmetry Properties of circles
Arc length, area of sector and radian measure
Pythagoras’ theorem and Trigonometry
Mensuration
Coordinate Geometry
Mean & SD
Cumulative frequency
Vectors (ratio of areas, magnitude, linked to coordinate geometry)

Regardless of how you think you have fared for Paper 1, continue to work hard for Paper 2 which is 9 days away. Practice daily!

All the best!

Edit: My view on O-Level exam answers as reported in 4 November 2013 TODAY papers.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/exam-answer-fever-heats-web